Hide of Protection; Reward of God

Hide of Protection; Reward of God
Words of Faith 3-16-2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2022
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL    
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Genesis 15
    After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward."

          The Lord came to Abram once again in a vision. The message was rather simple. "Don't be afraid. I am your shield and your reward."  
          Have you ever noticed that sometimes we are not even aware of our own fear? This must have been the case with Abram. He had just made a choice to be in alliance with God rather than the world. What he was giving up in terms of material wealth and security was nothing to sneeze at! But even worse was the possible affront to a powerful "king."  
         Now the question of how he would continue to survive must have entered Abram's heart because the first words of the Lord were reassurance. Don't be afraid. The Lord hears our hearts even when we don't. So the Lord gave Abram a powerful word. I am your "shield."  
         The Hebrew word is 'magen' and means a small shield or buckler, a protector. It also is the word for the scaly hide of a crocodile! The Lord would be the hard hide that would protect Abram in case of attack. The Lord would be Abram's protector no matter what was ahead.
          There was a second word. I am your "reward"... your very great reward! The Hebrew word (sakar) means payment of a contract or salary, a fare, or maintenance. The Lord was saying to Abram that He not only provides needed material goods, but He IS our payment. He does not give us a "salary" -- He IS OUR SALARY. He does not cut us a deal to provide a certain amount. He is our provision and He is unlimited! He is all that we need. He is the very thing we need most!
          I once stayed in a kibbutz in Israel called "Magen."  I am glad to know what that means. He is my shelter. He is my refuge. He is the hide of protection that I need in hard or difficult times. He Himself is also my sustaining compensation. I do not seek Him to gain something else. I seek Him! He is all I need.
        As you go today, claim the vision of Abram! God is our shield and our reward.

       Father God, thank You for being my shield and reward. Protect me this day. Walk with me this day. You are all that I need! In Jesus' name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)        
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2022 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.